Chapters 81 to 90

The Tirukkural: Getting close to the original In Spirit, Content and Style The 'choicest' of all translations in English First edition in 2006; revised edition in 2024 This Tirukkural translation in English is drawn from translations by more than 25 different authors - mostly published in print, some unpublished and some in press. Twenty of these were either complete or partial translations and the remaining ten were isolated translations that appeared in articles, monographs and books authored by different scholars on the Tirukkural and Tiruvalluvar. The choicest translation of every couplet that is close to the original - in spirit, content and style - has been chosen for presentation. Preference has been given for brevity, simplicity and clarity. Emphasize was also laid on translations that manage to reflect, as much as possible, every word found in the original.  Sometimes translations of two authors were combined to produce the best reflection of the original. The translator or translators of every couplet have been acknowledged with their initials (eg. PS, SS, SB, VS, RM etc.) in a separate column. The initials have been expanded with the names of these translators at the end of every page, and the full citation of the source has been given at the end of all translations. When no translation was found particularly satisfactory, I chose to render them myself. These have been marked by initial NV. An astrix (*) at the end of a translation indicate that the rendering has been improved upon, either by adding/replacing words or deleting words found to be unnecessary. To know more on the process of this comparison and criteria of selection, click here: ComparingTirukkural translations to unfold the best.

Division II. Wealth (Continuation)

081	Familiarity	Translators	Notes
0801	Call that an old friendship Where liberties are not resented.	PS
0802	True friendship permits liberties and to concede to it Is the duty of the wise. *	KK
0803	What is that intimacy which does not approve And reciprocate liberties?	PS
0804	The wise take in good spirit if friends, by right of familiarity, Do things without asking. *	SS, DL
0805	When friends hurt, attribute it to either ignorance Or privileges of friendship. *	SS	Yes
0806	Those bound by intimacy never desert their old pals Even if they bring loss. *	SS
0807	In a friendship built on love, friends do not cease to love Even when there is betrayal. *	GU, NV
0808	Close friends who won't listen to friend's faults, Hail in silence the day they offend. *	SS, PS
0809	The world will cherish those friends Who never forsake old, unbroken friendships.	SS
0810	Even adversaries admire the character of old friends Who don't part.	NV, JN

Notes:

805. Compare with 700. "Unworthy acts under the trust of old friendship lead to ruinous woes" - JN

082	Bad friendship	Translators	Notes
0811	The hypocrite's flattering friendship pleases more As it wanes than as it grows. *	SI
0812	What matters if one gain or lose that unsettling friendship Which sticks and ends at will?	NV, PS	Yes
0813	Those who weigh friendship for gain Are no different from whores and frauds.	NV
0814	Better to be alone than befriend those, Who, like a broken horse, throw you down.	NV
0815	Better to forfeit than seek the friendship of the base Who betray at need. *	PS, SS
0816	A wise man's enmity is a million of times better Than a fool's fast friendship. *	PS
0817	Ten million times better the enmity of foes Than the friendship of jesters and fools. *	PS
0818	Drop silently the friends who pose And won't help when they can.	PS
0819	Friends whose words differ from their deeds Distress even in dreams.	PS
0820	Keep them far off who are friends at home And foes in public.	PS

Notes:
812: A short and crisp translation, but not close to original:  "What matters if one gain or lose a motivated friendship?" – PS

083	False friendship	Translators	Notes
0821	Posing friends treat you like an anvil To strike you at the opportune time. *	DZ, KV
0822	Fickle as a woman's heart is the friendship of those Who act like friends.	PS, NV
0823	Hard for the ignoble to be good-hearted, No matter how well educated they are. *	MS
0824	Beware of those deceits who, with a smiling face, Conceal bitterness in their hearts.	NV
0825	Trust not the mere words of those Whose minds don't agree with us. *	PS	Yes
0826	A foe's words though seem friendly and good Can be read at once. *	PS
0827	Trust not the bowing speech of your foe. A bending bow is a sign of imminent danger.	PS, NV
0828	Like a dagger concealed in folded hands Is the mourning tears of foes. *	PS, NV
0829	Cajole and crush with friendly guise Those who flatter you but despise within. *	SB, PS
0830	While playing a friend to foes, keep a friendly face But banish them from thy heart.	JN, SS

Notes:
824. Compare with 786. "A smiling face alone makes no friendship, but the heart should also smile with the face." * - VR

825: A short and crisp translation but not close to original: "When minds do not agree don't trust mere words" - PS

084	Folly	Translators	Notes
0831	If there is a thing called folly, It is seizing what brings ill and letting the good slip. *	PS
0832	Folly among follies is the fondness for doing things Beyond one's reach. *	JN, CR	Yes
0833	Shamelessness, aimlessness, callousness and listlessness Are marks of foolishness. *	SB
0834	There is no greater fool than he Who has studied and taught, but lacks control.	PS
0835	A fool does deeds in a single birth That will plunge him in hell in the succeeding seven.	PS
0836	When a half-baked fool takes on a task, The task is undone, and so is he! *	PS
0837	Should a fool get hold of a great fortune, Strangers will feast while his kindred starve. *	VS
0838	A fool getting hold of wealth Is like a lunatic getting drunk.	PS
0839	Sweet indeed is a fool's friendship, For when it breaks there is no pain.	PS
0840	A fool's entry into a learned assembly Is like entering a shrine with unclean legs.	NV, PS	Yes

Notes:
832. The interpretation of this couplet could vary depending on how the words in the second line are combined and read. One way is to split as: "கை அல்லதன்கண் செயல்".  The other way is: "கைஅல்ல தன்கண் செயல்." The translation given above is based on the second method of word combination. If we are to follow the first, an equally valid translation is "The folly of all follies is to enjoy doing what one is forbidden to do" – SS.
840. The word "பள்ளி" here is usually taken by almost all translators as "bed". If we are to translate "கழாக் கால் பள்ளியுள் வைத்தற்றால்" as "placing a dirty foot on a clean bed" – as it is usually done – then the phrase employed by Valluvar should have been "பள்ளிமேல்" and not "பள்ளியுள்" as is the case here. The monasteries of the Jains and Buddhist monks were called "பள்ளி" in the ancient Tamil country [Varadarajan, 1988]. Following the near total disappearance of Buddhism and Jainism from Southern India, this word has now been used to denote the places of worship of Muslims and Christians. Hindu temples were always called by the names கோயில், ஆலயம், அம்பலம் and never by the word பள்ளி. 

085	Inflated ignorance	Translators	Notes
0841	The lack of lacks is the lack of knowledge. Other lacks are not deemed such by the world.	PS
0842	Should a fool gift a thing heartily, it is nothing but Due to the penance of the recipient. *	SM
0843	The harm fools do to themselves Is beyond anything their foes do to them.	PS
0844	What is stupidity? It is that vanity Which dares to declare, "I am wise."	SS
0845	Pretence to learning not learnt, Calls in question the learning learnt.	PS
0846	Can a fool be said to be clothed When his faults lie exposed?	PS
0847	A fool who can't hold on to rare secrets Does great harm to himself.	NV, PS
0848	Heeds no advice; knows nothing wise; His life is an illness till he dies.	KS
0849	He is a fool, who tries to open the eyes of a fool, For a fool sees things only his own way. *	VS
0850	He who denies what the world affirms Will be thought a demon on earth. *	PS

086	Hostility	Translators	Notes
0851	Hatred, they say, is the disease That spreads the plague of discord among all life. *	SS
0852	Even if disagreeable things are done to cause rift, Better do nothing painful to avoid conflict. *	DL, NV
0853	If that dire disease called hostility is discarded, What yields is undying everlasting fame. *	MS
0854	When the misery of miseries called malice ceases, There comes the joy of joys. *	PS
0855	Who can ever overcome the one, Who refuses to give in to feelings of hatred?	KV
0856	Want and ruin will soon befall the life of one Who delights in excess hostility. *	KS, NV	Yes
0857	Those learned rapt up in destructive hate Will never see the triumphant nature of truth. *	PS, DL
0858	To resist hatred is a gain. Yielding to it, one is overcome by ruin. *	PS, KV
0859	Destined to prosper one will not look at hatred. Destined for ruin, one will see it all the time.	PS
0860	From hatred comes all evil. And from friendship the pride of goodness.	PS, NV

Notes:
856. An alternate translation, though not close to original: "He who revels in discord will soon be overtaken by suffering" – KV.

087	Might of enemies	Translators	Notes
0861	Avoid opposing the strong. Cherish your desire of enmity with the weak. *	DL, NV
0862	No love, great support, or own strength has he! How can he survive a strong enemy? *	MS, SB
0863	A coward, ignorant, unsocial and mean Is an easy prey to his enemy.	PS
0864	The unrestrained and angry are an easy prey To anyone, anytime, anywhere.	PS
0865	Foes prefer the tactless and shameless one Who cares not for codes and scorns.	NV
0866	Those with blind fury and inordinate lust Are vulnerable enemies to be nursed with.	NV
0867	He is a foe worth purchasing Who starts a fight and does all wrong.	PS
0868	Enemies will rejoice the one With no virtues, many vices, and no allies. *	VS
0869	Enemies' joy has no bounds When they get a fool and coward as a foe. *	PS, SB
0870	No glory or gain can ever come to one Who cannot overcome an ignorant foe. *	KV	Yes

Notes:
870. A couplet that has been translated differently by different authors: SS puts it as: "Fame will escape the grasp of those who fail to grasp the wealth of fools who failed to learn". Manakkudavar, one of the great ancient commentators of Kural, takes these words "கல்லான், வெகுளும், சிறுபொருள்" to mean "ignorant, angry and deficient" as attributes of an enemy [Diaz, 2000]. Other interesting translation is: "Fame will escape him who lets escape an easy victory over a fool" – PS. 

088	Knowing enemy's strength	Translators	Notes
0871	One should never wish for the accursed thing Called enmity, even in jest.	SS	Yes
0872	Make foes, if you must, with bowmen And never of men whose weapon is their tongue. *	PS, VS
0873	It is worse than madness for one who has no allies, To make numerous enemies.	CR
0874	The world is secure under one Whose nature can make friends of foes.	PS
0875	While facing two foes, unaided and alone, Make one your friend. *	PS
0876	In times of crisis, be wary of joining or opposing any, Whether tested or untested. *	KV, NV
0877	Keep your sorrows from strangers And your weakness from foes. *	PS
0878	Engineer, execute and defend. Thus keep the pride of your foes at bay.	SS, JN
0879	Cut a thorny shrub when young. Allowed to grow, it injures the hand that cuts.	NV
0880	Those who can't crush the pride of defying foes Will cease to breathe long. *	VS

Notes:
871. Compare with 995. "Mockery hurts even in jest, and hence the considerate are courteous even to their foes" * - PS

089	Foe within	Translators	Notes
0881	Even shade and water unwholesome can harm Likewise one’s kinsmen if they hurt. * (PS)	PS
0882	No need to fear an enemy wielding a sword. Beware of enemies posing as friends. *	KV
0883	Guard against the foe within, lest he strike you In times of peril like the potter's knife. *	KK, PS
0884	When hidden hatreds lurk in the mind, Myriad miseries manifest among kin. *	SS
0885	Hidden hatred amongst kinsman Can cause all sorts of deadly sorrows. *	SS, KV
0886	Unanimity will disappear for ever Once disunity arises within a union.	NV
0887	A house that harbours hatred, like a vial and its lid, Seems one but comes apart. *	PS, SS
0888	A family with internal frictions wears out And loses its strength like gold being filed. *	DL
0889	Even a dissent as small as a seed, Can trigger that destructive internal hatred.	NV
0890	To partner one with a hidden hate Is to share a hut with a cobra.	PS

090	Not offending the great	Translators	Notes
0891	The best way to guard oneself is to not spite The powers of the prowess. *	SS, PS
0892	Irreverence to the great will lead To endless trouble through them.	PS
0893	If destruction you desire, provoke those Who in turn can destroy as they desire. *	SS	Yes
0894	For the weak to challenge the mighty Is to summon yama with the hand.	PS, SS	Yes
0895	Where can he go and how can he thrive, Who falls foul of a powerful king?	SB, PS
0896	One may survive even if burnt in fire But no survival for those who offend the great. *	SS, PS
0897	What avails glorious life and great wealth If one incurs the wrath of the virtuous great? *	SS
0898	If you underestimate the eminent, You will be shaken off the earth of all your ties. *	MS, JN
0899	Even the mightiest of kings can perish midway If men of high repute burst in rage. *	DL, KV
0900	Even men with all their might and aid Cannot be saved if great sages frown. *	NV, VS

Notes:
893. The import of the couplet can be summed up this way: “To offend the powerful wantonly is to ask for trouble” - PS
894. yama is ‘god of death’.  Compare with couplet 250 where Valluvar says “When you threaten one weaker than yourself, think of yourself before a bully”. (PS)
896. Compare with 1049 for similar idea: “One may sleep even in the midst of fire, but by no means in the midst of poverty” * - DL

References:

Diaz, S.M. 2000. [Translator]. Tirukkural. Ramanandha Adigalar Foundation, Coimbatore. Pp 878
Varadarajan, Mu. 1988. Translated from Tamil by E. Sa. Visswanathan. A history of Tamil literature. Sahitya Akademi. Pp 75.

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Key to the initials of different translators:

CR - C. Rajagopalachari	KS - Kasthuri Sreenivasan	SI - K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar
DL -W.H. Drew and  J. Lazarus	KV - K. Krishnaswamy & Vijaya Ramkumar	SM -S. Maharajan
DZ - S.M. Diaz	MS - M.S. Poornalingam Pillai	SS - Satguru  Subramuniyaswami
EL - F.W. Ellis	NC - Norman Cutler	TD - S. Thandapani Desikar
GU - G.U. Pope	NV - N.V.K. Ashraf	TK - T.K. Chidambaranatha Mudaliar
GV - G. Vanmikanathan	PS - P.S. Sundaram	VC - V.C. Kulandai Swamy
JN - J. Narayanaswamy	SB - Shuddhananda Bharatiar	VR  - V. Ramasamy
KK - K. Kannan	SD - S.D. Rajendran	VS - V.V.S. Aiyar
KN - K.N. Subramanyam	SG - G. Siromoney, S. Govindaraju & M. Chandrasekaran,

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